Following Your Treatment Plan

Breast cancer treatment is most effective when all parts of the treatment plan are completed. So, it's important to follow the treatment plan (for medications and other therapies) prescribed by your health care provider in terms of:

Following your treatment plan

You are prescribed (or recommended) to take medications over a long period of time

You are prescribed (or recommended) to go to treatments over a long time (especially if you live far away)

You have side effects from treatment

Even though it may be hard, it's vital to follow your treatment plan.

Medications, such as oral chemotherapy and hormone therapy (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors), only work if you take them as prescribed. And, radiation therapy is most effective when you finish the entire course.

Calls to our Breast Care Helpline are answered by a trained and caring staff member Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET and from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT. Our helpline provides free, professional support services to anyone with breast cancer questions or concerns, including people diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.

Completing radiation therapy after lumpectomy

Radiation therapy is almost always given after lumpectomy to lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence and increase the chances of survival [3].

Radiation therapy for early breast cancer usually is given 5 days a week, for 3-7 weeks.

Getting to and from the treatment center so often can be hard, especially if you live far away or if children or other family members rely on you for care.

If you need a ride to and from treatment or help with child care or elder care, there may be resources to help. Family and friends often want to help, but don’t know how. These are great ways they can help you.

Completing oral chemotherapy

Although most side effects go away shortly after chemotherapy ends, preventing or treating symptoms can help you complete your course of chemotherapy.

You should never feel you have to endure side effects, such as nausea. Talk with your health care provider about any side effects you are having.

Your provider may be able to prescribe medications to treat your side effects or change your treatment plan to reduce them.

If you have trouble remembering to take oral chemotherapy or medications to treat side effects, a daily pillbox or setting an alarm on your watch or mobile device (you may be able to download an app) may help [1].

Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy is a well-known part of cancer treatment. Today, however, some chemotherapy drugs can be taken by mouth (oral).

Insurance policies have not kept pace with these advances. IV chemotherapy is usually covered under a health insurance plan’s medical benefit, whereas oral chemotherapy is usually covered under a plan’s prescription drug benefit.

As a result, people often find themselves facing high out-of-pocket costs when filling their prescriptions for oral cancer drugs (sometimes costing thousands of dollars a month).

High prescription drug costs are a barrier to care. They can prevent people from getting the medications prescribed by their health care providers.

No one should be forced to get less appropriate treatment because an insurer gives more coverage for IV chemotherapy than oral chemotherapy.

Komen supports state and federal efforts to require insurers to provide the same or better coverage for oral breast cancer medications as they do for medications given by vein (through an IV). This would help ensure patients have access to affordable, appropriate treatment.

Completing intravenous (IV) chemotherapy

Getting to and from the treatment can be hard, especially if you live far away.

If you need a ride to and from treatment or have child care or elder care needs that make getting to IV chemotherapy treatments difficult, there may be resources to help.

Family and friends often want to help, but don’t know how. These may be ways for them to help. Don't hesitate to ask for help.